All posts filed under: Historical Sew Fortnightly

HSF Challenge #24: Re-do: Evening violet tap pants

In attempting to do ALL the challenges in one fortnight I’m having to be at least a teeny, tiny bit practical about some of my projects, which means not everything will be as elaborate as the Greek Key dress. Besides, one of the challenges was Starting Simple! So, a simple item: little silk tap pants: So what challenges do the tap pants cover? They aren’t quite as a multi-challenge as the Greek Key frock, but they get a few checked off the list: #0 (the bonus challenge): Starting Simple – Such a simple practical garment #3: Under it all — They are going to go under ALL my summer frocks! And oh, look, they could also count for: #25: One Metre — 80cm of silk? I’m in! And I’m feeling excessively celebratory about the Greek Key frock, so I guess I am doing all 26! I wanted to photograph them on Fanny, but I had a brain blip and forgot to press them before I put them on her. Oops! The Challenge: #24: Re-Do Fabric: …

HSF Challenge #24: Re-do: Pamela & Lynne’s 1905 Greek Key dress

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m doing something a bit mad for the Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge #24, in which you re-do one of the earlier challenges. My goal is to re-do ALL the challenges. I know! Ambitious! OK, I’m not making 23 separate items, but my goal is to make/finish a collection of items which together would qualify for every single one of the challenges so far. To start with, here is the 1905 Greek Key Reception Dress, which covers 10 of the 23 challenges: There is a wonderful story behind this dress. The dress proper isn’t actually my work: it was patterned up by the wonderful Lynne (who frequently comments on my blog, and who gave me the fabulous fir sleeve for the Fur & Scales muff), and sewn by her equally wonderful friend Pamela for a production of the Importance of Being Ernest some years ago. Being Lynne, she did a beautifully researched garment that was equally beautifully made – far more so than any theatre could hope for! The gown is a perfectly patterned version of …

HSF Challenge #23: the Ettie Mae Hooverette Dress

Published by The Dreamstress

When it came time for the HSF Challenge #23: Gratitude (make something utilises the tutorials, patterns and research that so many of the historical costuming community make available for free) I was in a bit of a quandary. I’ve got a list of tutorials and patterns that I want to use that is a mile long, and kilometres of fabric and lace that have been gifted to me by generous people, but every one of these tutorials and patterns was would be a very involved project. Stupidly I’d scheduled the ‘Generosity’ challenge right at the end of the university semester, and I was up to my neck in marking. What to do!?! I had a browse through the HSF photo albums and finished projects for inspiration, and was reminded again of the Hooverette dress that Jen did for the Robes & Robings challenge. It’s simple, it’s sweet, I’m madly in love with it, and I want one! Also, Jen did a bunch of awesome research on Hooverette and wrap dresses from the 20s-40s, making reproducing …